About The CEC

The CEC is comprised of an award-winning team. OUR PATIENTS BECOME OUR FAMILY.Get to know us!

The Center for Endometriosis Care (CEC) was founded in 1991 by the surgical pioneer and leading excision surgeon, Dr. Robert B. Albee, Jr. Medical Director Dr. Ken Sinervo, known globally for his surgical and disease expertise, joined the CEC over two decades ago and serves at the head of our practice. Dr. Jeff Arrington, renowned endometriosis excision specialist, joined the CEC in 2018. The CEC is based around four founding principles:

Performing pathological examination on all excised tissue; and above all else -

Treating patients with respect and compassion as true partners in their care.

We were among the very first of the early tertiary referral centers founded specifically to focus on endometriosis and advanced surgical excision of the disease in patients of all ages from around the world. As a premiere center of expertise for gold standard treatment of endometriosis, we specialize in comprehensive Laparoscopic Excision – or as Dr. Albee has coined, “LAPEX.” The CEC considers it a privilege to serve the needs of all those in the endometriosis community and offers many services, including but not limited to:

-Accumulating data about results of our surgeries, currently comprised of more than 6,000 global patients from more than 50 countries, dating nearly thirty years back; the CEC also treats among the highest number of complex, extrapelvic and thoracic/diaphragmatic endometriosis cases annually

-Robust lay and professional education programs, including international Grand Rounds/lectures/engagements and more at AAGL, APGO, SLS, Surgical Film Fest, ARHP, SMCR, nursing schools, medical schools, health classes from grade 7-university level, legislators, media, corporations, public events, and so many others; we are also privileged to be featured in the EndoWhat? films and be a supporting partner of the groundbreaking EndoWhat? School Nurses Initiative, the only school education program to provide accurate disease information

Our most critical and foremost focus is on healing and restoring quality of life in those affected by this disease. To that end, we have unique experience with and understanding of the far-reaching impact this disease has on affected shareholder’s lives, as members of our staff also personally experienced endometriosis. There IS hope, and there ARE solutions available. We want to help, and are honored to provide continuous, compassionate care long after our patients leave Atlanta.

All CEC surgeons are experts in excision of endometriosis. Dr. Sinervo prefers near-contact laparoscopy using the C02 laser to dissect the disease. Laser excision differs *significantly* from other, less meticulous laser techniques including commonly performed vaporization, which destroys tissue, makes microscopic evaluation impossible and leaves behind endometriosis “roots” – that’s why we don't use such approaches. Few surgeons use a laser to excise endometriosis; most use the technology to superficially burn some disease and leave the bulk behind. Dr. Arrington prefers to excise endometriosis using robotic-assisted technology. Although excisional biopsy and resection offers a higher success rate in treating the disease, surgical excision also requires a higher level of surgical skill and most ObGYNs do not excise the disease. As a result, many receive incomplete treatment, which in turn may lead to persistent symptoms and recurrent disease. Those who have undergone repeated poor surgeries, failed medical suppression therapies, and/or had a hysterectomy often still suffer and end up traveling to us for help.

Endometriosis of the bowel, bladder and beyond CAN be safely and completely removed through excision, as can dense adhesions and deep, infiltrating peritoneal disease. All excised tissue is sent to the pathology lab for examination. You have the security of knowing exactly what was found and removed in your surgery. We also utilize intraoperative adhesion barriers and surgical techniques to minimize formation of secondary (de novo) adhesions as well as bioregenerative medicine to facilitate healing. We work with a full surgical team including colorectal, urologic, thoracic and other surgeon colleagues as needed to ensure all disease, from all areas, is thoroughly resected and removed at the time of your surgery.

Quality surgery - excision - is the cornerstone of successful treatment for endometriosis. However, it doesn't stop there. Multidisciplinary care is needed to fully address all components of the disease. Most of all, individuals with endometriosis need to be heard. Too often, they have been dismissed as 'neurotic whiners' or ‘menstrual moaners’ and told the pain was in their head. Their questions were ignored, their challenges unanswered, their requests for help unanswered. Many have been told there is no hope, that their disease couldn’t have possibly recurred, or that they are beyond treatment. Here at the Center for Endometriosis Care, this is simply not the case. Our goal is to believe you and treat you with respect, validation and compassion. We ask that you become partners with us in health care. We will take the journey together and help you find answers. How can we help you or a loved one? Let us know!